Back to School: Families Forced to Pay for Garbage Bags and Other Classroom Supplies

Contributing to the classroom supply closet is nothing new. When I was a kid, in addition to my box of crayons, a ruler and a tablet of wide-ruled paper, I'd always cart two boxes of tissues to school on the first day. Every elementary school teacher I ever had put it on the required supply list, and everyone was expected to pitch in. Even for a poor family like mine, it was feasible.

Parents of children heading back to school this month may be in for a surprise. Thanks to cuts to public education, students in Moody, Alabama have a new batch of requisite items on their list: Clorox, baby wipes, garbage and Ziploc bags, and liquid soap are just some of the necessities teachers have asked for help in stockpiling. Kindergarten and preschool children in two Texas districts are being asked to bring construction paper, Dixie cups and paper towels.

While I'm no fan of big corporations invading our public schools, a number of companies have seen this trend hurt families and have at least offered to help. Staples stores nationwide have partnered with DoSomething.org to collect donations to distribute to local non-profits. (Memo to Staples corporate: feel free to put lots of stuff in the collections boxes yourselves.)

Even better, a few community groups have stepped up to the plate. People Against Violence Enterprises held a rally in Gainesville, Florida where free backpacks filled with supplies like glue sticks and scissors were handed out alongside snacks and talks from guest speakers about preventing violence in schools. In Louisville, groups like Louisville Gas & Electric and Feed The City passed out over 1,500 bookbags and supply packets to families lined up to receive their hand-out. San Francisco's MAGIC Program also held a back-to-school celebration and giveaway. Efforts like these could hardly be more necessary. Thanks to the recession, there are an estimated one million homeless kids in this country, not to mention the millions more living in poverty.

It's hard enough for families to hold it together during the recession without extra pressure from the school systems to pitch in. At the same time, with massive budget cuts and lay-offs, teachers are in a tight spot too. I just wish it didn't trickle down to the kids. As if students aren't going to be made fun of on the first day as it is, now kids have one more reason to pick on each other: you forgot to bring disinfectant for classroom use.

Photo credit: EvelynGiggles